05/09/2026
Such an amazing feat!
The Good Old Days Festival is set to break Aussie records again in 2026 with the greatest number of camels pulling a laden wool wagon and a new 21st century Australian record for the largest working bullock team.
Organised by the Barellan Working Clydesdales committee, the Good Old Days Festival is the biggest tourism event in the Narrandera Shire contributing over $1 million to the regional economy and this year will be held on October 2-4 at the Barellan showground.
The festival drew global attention in 2025 for setting a new Australian record of 62 heavy horses pulling an Australian built Bennett wagon, weighing 10 tonnes, and laden with wool bales.
Visitors this year will experience a unique sight not seen in regional Australia for almost a century. Bullockies Phil Thomson, Ron McKinnon, Matt Stanford, Rohan Morris, Darcy Quinn and Joey Reedy will drive a large composite team of bullocks pulling a loaded six-tonne wagon to eclipse their 21st century Australian record of 40 bullocks set in 2025.
The bullock team will be accompanied by a large team of camels pulling a loaded wagon and driven by cameleers Rodney Sansom, Oakfield Ranch, Anna Bay, NSW, and Peter Hodge, Shepparton, Vic. They will be setting out to break the existing Australian record of 22 camels harnessed to a loaded wagon set by Mr Sansom and his team in 2024.
The camel teams will be accompanied by an international delegation from the Texas Camel Corps and North American Camel Ranch Owners Association. The tour leaders are Doug Baum, education Chair, Texas Camel Corps, of Texas, and Valeri Crenshaw, secretary general, North American Camel Ranch Owners Association, of Kansas.
Ms Crenshaw said US camel owners could learn from the international camel community, experience other camel cultures, and create awareness about camel issues around the world.
“We are so excited to experience the festival for the first time as we had heard so much about it from our camel colleagues in Australia,” Ms Crenshaw said.
“Riding on a wagon, especially one pulled by so many camels, has been on my bucket list for quite a while and I am thrilled to get to experience it with all my friends.
“We feel so lucky to have a great group travelling with us, such wonderful colleagues in Australia to host and educate us and to be able to do it all at this festival that we have admired from afar for so long.”
Doug and Valeri will speak on the history of trekking with camels in the US during the Teamsters Q & A sessions and give masterclasses on packing camels.
Across the festival, the goat teams and their handlers will be judged on their abilities and skills in the prestigious Little Teamsters Trophy, with the winner announced on Sunday afternoon.
Another program highlight will be the Tim Peel Perpetual Youth Award to encourage young people under the age of 30 to show initiative and leadership qualities in maintaining the nation’s heritage. Won last year by Forbes auctioneer, bullocky and bush poet, Joey Reedy, this award will be judged on Sunday, October 4.
Visitors will also be able to listen to masterclasses on side saddle equitation with Vanessa Wells, using pack horses with Brad Taylor, see a wheelwrighting display, compete in the gum leaf whistling, beard/moustache competition and Barellan Hobby Horse Championships, or enter the competition for the best damper baked in a caravan across the festival week.
Around 650 meals will be served in the camp oven dinner under the stars on the Saturday night with live entertainment by Danny Phegan and the Longreach band. Live entertainment on the Friday night will feature Lachie Cossor and the Minor Profits.
Barellan Working Clydesdales secretary Fiona Kibble said the festival had undergone rapid organic growth and reached a point of maturity in 2025 with a new three-day format and global recognition.
“It is exciting times not only for the committee but also for Barellan and the Narrandera Shire to have such a unique, pioneering event – the only one of its kind in the world where visitors can see horses, camels, bullocks, donkeys, mules and goats all working in harness on-site,” Ms Kibble said.
“Always evolving, our program includes many tangible exciting experiences for all family members where they can see, hear, touch and taste our pioneer heritage.
“Our Friday program is quite different to the Saturday and Sunday events but our popular grand parade through the main street of Barellan remains.
“The not-for-profit event is run by volunteers and raises funds which are reinvested back into our community through new infrastructure.”
Barellan Working Clydesdales were honoured to be nominated for the Outstanding Visitor Experience and Outstanding Community Organisation in the 2026 Narrandera Shire Business Awards.
The Good Old Days Festival is proudly sponsored by Bendigo Bank Narrandera & District Community Branch.
All online ticketing is via www.barellanclydesdales.com.au
